All when the dust settles...
I think what's bothering me most about this election (and really, to tell you the truth, not all that much is bothering me about it) is the fact that over the course of four years we haven't changed. Last weekend, I went to a friend's Halloween party, where I saw a number of people (5-7 let's say) I knew from high school, and all of these people, with the exception of maybe one, all of these people's characters have changed so little, for better or for worse, and it depressed me to a state where I eventually had to leave, frustrated by these people doing exactly the same things I watched them do four years ago. Now, a week later, I have seen this phenemeon multiplied by an entire country. With a few minor exceptions, the electoral map, when it was all said and done, was almost identical to the one we saw in 2000. Aren't people's values and beliefs suppose to grow, adapt, or just plain flip-flop as one grows older and hopefully wiser?

The feeling I had this morning about the election was similiar to the one I had after eating lunch at McDonald's this afternoon: satisfied, yet a bit bloated. I sympathize with my fellow liberal collegues, some of which are taking the results I bit harder than others, but I'm not suprised, angered, or much of anything by the whole ordeal. The system did its thing, and like the outcome of a championship game, somebody has to lose. And that's all this is; an overblown sports event. A bunch of commentators sitting around, filling the air (with occasional useful insights) until something important happens, spectulating and examining statistics until they are blue in the face, etc. etc.

People, you're widening your scope too much. Narrow the focus, and worry first about the promotion you're going for or the huge midterm scheduled for Monday before you start worrying about some kid of Rwanda that you're never going to meet or who's going to lead this country for the next four years. I mean, we put too much faith in one man. Imagine Kerry had found his way into office; I think the guy would have been more scrutinized than Bush is going to be for the next four years. It's a tough act to follow. At least we know what we are getting, whether that's your bag or not.

... Eh, I can't keep this up. This aire of experience, knowledge. I don't know any better than you. The point is that it's good to have convictions and values and be involved in the world, but if you've got enough stress with your own personal issues, why take on more?

Look at life as if it were a fair. Ride everything once, stop once and a while and sit down on a bench and soak it all in, play the games while realizing that all of these peddlers are out to get your money, feel really damn good when you beat the system and win a giant stuffed panda, and you better damn well give that panda to your honey right next to you, because all we have is those few moments before the whole shindig shuts down, picks up, and leaves town. And don't worry, it'll roll through again, but until then it's back to your 9 to 5.

Do what makes you happy, be responsible along the way, and make a few connections. The rest of the world will do the same; so try not to worry about them too much. When you go to a huge university, you make it a small campus by surrounding yourself with a handful of people who share the same interests and joys that you do. Don't try to do any differently with the world at large.

Self-centered does not equal selfishness. You can still give and put yourself first. Only stress the things that you really care about (i.e. the things that you've cared about up to this point), because the rest will be resolved in your mind way before they ever are in reality.

Self-destruct. Reconstruct. Adapt. Evolve.

Give up.

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